Eagles, Pirates renew spirited rivalry

Pinckney’s Justin Eagy is part of an effective passing attack for the Pirates. He leads the county with 20 receptions for 346 yards and four touchdowns going into tonight’s game at Hartland.(Photo: Jim Jagdfeld/File)

There's plenty at stake for both football teams tonight when Pinckney travels to Hartland.

But Hartland coach Brian Savage, one of the more easygoing coaches you'll meet, found time Wednesday night to watch the powder puff game between the senior girls and their junior counterparts at Hartland High School.

"I'm trying to scout a few more kickers and receivers," he joked.

The girls game was part of homecoming activities at Hartland, with tonight's football game and Saturday's homecoming dance the culmination of the week's festivities.

Tonight's game can be heard on livingstondaily.com starting at 6:50 p.m.

"Homecomings scare me," Savage said. "They can be a two-headed monster. On the one hand, the alumni come back and the kids want to play well for them. On the other, they have to worry about stuff like flowers for Saturday night. But my kids, I think are doing a good job understanding what their job is on Friday night."

That would be a Pinckney team (1-3 overall, 1-1 KLAA West) that picked up its first win of the season last week with a 27-20 victory over Howell at home.

"They're well-coached and they have a great team," Savage said. "They had a couple of tough losses and could easily be 3-1. They're another good team in the KLAA West."

So, too, are the Eagles, off to a blazing start at 3-1 overall, 1-1 in the West.

"That Canton win opened everyone's eyes," Pinckney coach Jakob Gailitis said, referring to a Week 2 upset at Canton. They're well coached. I watched films and they always have everyone in the right spot. They're physical and do everything well. They're what you look for in a high school football team."

The Eagles feature a strong rushing attack led by Ryan McRobb, who has rushed for 497 yards and six touchdowns this season.

"McRobb's doing a great job," Gailitis said. "He's what we call a one-cut back. He does a good job of finding the hole and exploding through it."

Quarterback Noah Marshall, in his first full season as the starter, has completed 40 of 60 passes for 435 yards and six scores himself while also providing another option in Hartland's rushing attack.

"He got a lot of experience last year and he has a couple of weapons at receiver," Gailitis said. "He gets the ball to everyone, which is what you like to see in a quarterback. He's not locked down on one guy."

Hartland, meanwhile, has to contend with a potent Pinckney passing attack led by Josh Hess, who threw for 238 yards and three touchdowns against Howell, along with running back Joel Blankenship, who has emerged as the Pirates' leading rusher.

"It's tough with them," Savage said, referring to defending Pinckney's offense. "They throw the ball well and yards after the catch was huge for them last week. We also have to make sure we wrap up Blankenship when he has the ball. We have to get 11 men to the ball and contain them."

If it sounds like a mutual admiration society, you're not mistaken. The teams have played some close contests over the years.

"We've built a rivalry with them," Gailitis said. "Our kids expect to go there and playe well, and their kids feel the same way. The team that makes the fewest mistakes will put itself in position to win. We're going to have to be fundamentally sound in our mental approach and in our techniques."

As for the atmosphere on game night, both coaches are looking forward to it.

"It's going to be great," Savage said. "It's why you get involved in high school football. There's going to be a huge crowd, and the kids are going to feel that."

■ COMMENT: It's a big game for both teams. Hartland needs a win to keep itself in position to win at least a share of the West title and also get momentum for tests against Brighton and Grand Blanc the next two weeks. Pinckney needs to keep winning to keep its playoff hopes alive. These teams have played some exciting games over the years, and tonight, with so much on the line, should be no exception.

■ COMMENT: Howell, like Pinckney, is in a must-win situation as far as the postseason is concerned. Brighton showed last week that tough defense can blunt Grand Blanc's offense, but keeping Tre'Von Avery in check is another thing entirely. It will be Howell's turn to try this week. If the Highlanders can do it while avoiding another slow start on offense, an upset is much more likely.

MILFORD at BRIGHTON

■ RECORDS: Milford is 1-3, 0-2; Brighton is 2-2, 1-1

■ LAST WEEK: Milford lost to Hartland 50-14, Brighton lost to Grand Blanc 13-10

■ LAST YEAR: Brighton won 44-14

■ LAST MILFORD WIN: 21-14 in 2012

■ LAST 10 GAMES: Brighton leads 7-3

■ COMMENT: The Bulldogs struggled with finishing drives in last week's loss, but they played shorthanded, too, with J.D. Ham on the sidelines and with Joey Clifford and Ben Finnegan joining him during the game. All three could see action tonight, and the Bulldogs should do well against a game but struggling Milford squad.

■ COMMENT: Fowlerville was totally overmatched last week at Lansing Catholic, and Williamston won't be any easier. This is the second ranked team the Gladiators have faced in as many weeks, and if the offensive line can't hold back defenders any better than it did last Saturday, it's going to be another long night for the Fowlerville offense.

TONIGHT'S SCHEDULE

■ Pinckney at Hartland

■ Grand Blanc at Howell

■ Milford at Brighton

■ Williamston at Fowlerville

– All games at 7 p.m.

ON THE WEB

Join us tonight at 6:50 when sports editor Tim Robinson and analyst Bill Simmons bring you the action as Pinckney travels to Hartland. It's our game of the week on livingstondaily.com.

BEAT THE PROS

This week's guest picker is Chris Russell, a 2008 Pinckney graduate and Howell resident who won the weekly prize last week for the first time in several years. Russell is a three-time Beat the Pros weekly champion who enjoys competing against his friends and family in the football game-picking contest.

Nathan Skene, shown against Pinckney last year, is part of a Hartland team that is off to a 3-1 start going into tonight’s homecoming game at Hartland.(Photo: Jim Jagdfeld/File)